John Caldigate eBook

William Bolton, however, would not admit that it could
be so, and Robert declared that though he suspected,—­though
in such a case he found himself bound to suspect,—­he
did not in truth believe that Caldigate had been guilty
of so terrible a crime. All probability was against
it;—­but still it was possible. Then,
after much deliberation, it was decided that an agent
should be sent out by them to New South Wales, to
learn the truth, as far as it could be learned, and
to bring back whatever evidence might be collected
without making too much noise in the collection of
it. Then there arose the question whether Caldigate
should be told of this;—­but it was decided
that it should be done at the joint expense of the
two brothers without the knowledge of Hester’s
husband.

Chapter XXV

The Baby’s Sponsors

‘Is there anything wrong between you and Robert?’
Hester asked this question of her husband, one morning
in January, as he was sitting by the side of her sofa
in their bedroom. The baby was in her arms, and
at that moment there was a question as to the godfathers
and godmother for the baby.

The letter from Mrs. Smith had arrived on the last
day of October, nearly two months before the birth
of the baby, and the telegrams refusing to send the
money demanded had been despatched on the 1st November,—­so
that, at this time, Caldigate’s mind was accustomed
to the burden of the idea. From that day to this
he had not often spoken of the matter to Robert Bolton,—­nor
indeed had there been much conversation between them
on other matters. Robert had asked him two or
three times whether he had received any reply by the
wires. No such message had come; and of course
he answered his brother-in-law’s questions accordingly;—­but
he had answered them almost with a look of offence.
The attorney’s manner and tone seemed to him
to convey reproach; and he was determined that none
of the Boltons should have the liberty to find fault
with him. It had been suggested, some weeks since,
before the baby was born, that an effort should be
made to induce Mrs. Bolton to act as godmother.
And, since that, among the names of many other relatives
and friends, those of uncle Babington and Robert Bolton
had been proposed. Hester had been particularly
anxious that her brother should be asked, because,—­as
she so often said to her husband,—­he had
always been her firm friend in the matter of her marriage.
But now, when the question was to be settled, John
Caldigate shook his head.

‘I was afraid there was something even before
baby was born,’ said the wife.

‘There is something, my pet.’

‘What is it, John? You do not mean to keep
it secret from me?’

’I have not the slightest objection to your
asking him to stand;—­but I think it possible
that he may refuse.’

‘Why should he refuse?’

’Because, as you say, there is something wrong
between us. There have been applications for
money about the Polyeuka mine. I would not trouble
you about it while you were ill.’